It may take anywhere between 6-12 weeks for the fading to be visible. But, of course, this all depends on the hair type and color products you're working with. It also comes down to these key factors during your client's color appointment...
On most heads of hair, that would mean getting a good 6-8 weeks between touch-ups – but sometimes, even with permanent dye, colour fade can happen within a few weeks. Why does this happen? Typically, hair dyes are water soluble. When you wash your hair, the dye molecules simply dissolve and your new colour rinses away.
Box dyes are designed to be permanent more or less. So the answer is that it may never fade to the same color. On top of that developer of any kind produces a lifting/lightening effect, so in the event that it does fade it may be lighter than it originally was.
To speed up the process of fading, use hot water and cheap shampoo, especially anything that says it's clarifying or for oily hair. Make sure to follow up with a good conditioner. To remove black box dye with as little damage as possible, see a professional for a color correction.
How Long Does It Take to Remove Hair Dye? Removing hair dye is a process, but it really depends on the type of dye you're trying to remove. Hair gloss or semi-permanent and demi-permanent hair dye that typically fades away after four to twelve washes are going to be easier to remove than a permanent dye.
The One-Hour Rule for Mixed Dye
Got some extra mix? Storing it for future glam sessions might not be the best call. Using old or expired hair dye can lead to funky colors and potential scalp irritation or allergic reactions.
As a general rule of thumb, darker colors tend to stay on the hair for longer. So, if you're adding lowlights, a root shadow or all-over depth, the shade will offer more mileage than, for example, light blondes, light browns or light reds. The same goes for pastel colors versus rainbow colors.
The fastest way to remove hair dye is typically by using a clarifying shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo. These shampoos contain strong cleansing agents that can effectively strip color from the hair. It's important to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment, as these shampoos can be harsh and drying on the hair.
Does hair dye lighten after a few days? Hair dye can lighten after a few days as it oxidizes and gets exposed to daily washing and sunlight.
Sulphate-rich shampoos are ideal for stripping hair since they help to release the colour - especially with dark or vibrant colours. These include clarifying or deep cleansing shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo.
Permanent: This dye often contains ammonia (to open hair's cuticle) mixed with a developer (hydrogen peroxide) to lift and deposit pigment, changing the hair's color until it grows out. This dye lasts the longest and is best for covering grays.
The easiest way to lighten hair is to use a clarifying shampoo or a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. These methods are gentle and can gradually lighten the hair over a few washes. For more immediate results, a professional toner or hair lightener can be used.
On average, hair grows about half an inch (1.25 cm) monthly. So, if you have shoulder-length hair and want to completely grow dyed hair to your natural color, it may take approximately 12 to 18 months. However, keep in mind that this timeline can be shorter or longer based on individual circumstances.
If your hair is brown, you may need to bleach it more than once before you apply the grey dye. It's important you get your hair as light as possible before you attempt to turn it grey – this will help ensure a more even tone and vibrant, all-over colour.
So How Long Should I Wait? We recommend four to six weeks between each hair coloring session, but be sure to take a look at the instructions of your hair coloring kit for the best guidance. Putting some space between colorings will help keep your hair from becoming dry and weak.
Generally speaking, though, you can expect permanent hair dye to last anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. If you have any concerns about using permanent hair dye on your hair, be sure to speak with a professional stylist before making the commitment.
“A big trick is always using hot water when you shower, because it's opening up the cuticle and getting that dye to fade quicker,” she says. “Most brands and professionals will recommend cold water to keep the color vibrant, but for fading definitely use warm [or] hot water.”
It's important to note that the pigment in purple shampoo isn't a lightener or hair dye but a gentle toner that works overtime. So it can't darken your hair or make it any lighter. For this reason, if your hair tone is too dark, it won't make it any brighter.
What fades faster, salon dye or box dye? Box dyes fade faster than salon dyes, as your stylist will consider your hair texture, type, and other color treatments to formulate a color that suits your needs.
Dish Soap
Fortunately, if you go through the effort of using this drying soap on your dyed hair, it can help remove unwanted color. You'll need to do many washes to fade it out, but it is a step in the right direction if you want to remove a color.
Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda can be an effective way to remove permanent hair dye naturally because of its lightening properties. Try mixing baking soda with lemon juice, which is acidic, to create a paste. Then, work the paste through your hair, allow it to sit for five minutes, and rinse thoroughly.
Heat opens up the cuticle of the hair and makes the color fade away faster. To prolong your hair color, try to limit how much you use heat on your hair. If you're going to be using hot tools, make sure you're using a heat protectant spray (like our Prime) and when you rinse your hair, try to stick to cool water.
Darker hair colors like deep black, espresso brown, and blue-black tend to fade the slowest. These colors have larger pigment molecules that hold onto the hair better, making them more resistant to fading.
First and definitely the hardest by far is GREY & SILVER!!!! This colour is definitely the trickiest on any level. This includes platinum or white, and any silvers or grey, even dark slate grey. For a start, its HARD to achieve as you have to get almost white blonde for any silver.